Carl Sagan vs Neil deGrasse Tyson

Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson are some of today’s most well known and loved scientists.

Sagan was an American astronomer who is best known for his work as a science popularizer and communicator. He wrote many popular science books including The Dragons of Eden, Broca’s Brain, and Pale Blue Dot, as well as Sci-Fi novel “Contact” He also co-wrote and narrated the award-winning 1980 television series “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage,” which is the most widely watched series in the history of American public television. It is said to have been seen by a least 500 million people!

Sagan was a huge influence on astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is arguable the most notable science communicator of today. Sagan met deGrasse Tyson as a teenager when the young Tyson was applying to colleges, and Sagan, a professor of Cornell University at the time, was attempting to recruit deGrasse Tyson to his program. Tyson ultimately decided to pursue a degree at Harvard University, but notes Sagan’s willingness to reach out and support his scientific career path as being a huge influence on him.

Tyson has authored multiple scientific non-fiction books including “Death by Black Hole”, and “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry”. He has also been a huge media presence in the scientific community, hosting PBS’s NOVA ScienceNow show, the podcast StarTalk, and the television series “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey”, which was a successor to Sagan’s “Cosmos” series.

Both Sagan and deGrasse Tyson have encouraged countless numbers of people to get interested in the wonders of science and our universe. So pick your most beloved scientific figure, and let the competition begin!